My Ex Tried To Steal My Dog And Is Now Taking Me To Court

So back in 2020, I got a dog for my ex and I. We had both lost pets that year and my best friend was getting rid of him. I got him “for my ex” in the sense that he was a surprise for him but he would be both of our’s. He originally lived with my ex at his mother’s house from October 2020-December 2020. When we moved in together, the dog moved in with us and has lived with us ever since. I have been his primary caretaker. He is microchipped to me and his vet account is under my name. My ex has helped with vet bills at times, but I’m the one who takes him on walks, pays for his food, and paid for a good portion of his vet bills. My ex has not been consistent with having a job, so there was a good chunk of time that I was the only one providing for the dog but that was years ago.

There have been times my ex didn’t make an effort to see the dog. I don’t know what kind of proof I’d have of that other than my word unless phone records could be looked up and messages retrieved that have since been deleted. Back in October, my ex showed up at my house and refused to leave. He was upset I was moving on with someone else and the cops had to come make him leave because he refused. Since then, I haven’t felt super safe as I don’t trust my ex’s intentions. He has drunkenly taken the dog before because he was angry at me, he’s threatened that I’ll never see him again because he’s angry.

On Thursday, my ex called demanding he get to see the dog. I essentially told him I don’t want contact and reminded him of many horrible things he’s done like drive drunk with the dog and get so angry the dog would soil himself. Thursday night, my ex went into my home and took the dog while I was at work. He had no consent or permission to be at my home and definitely not to take the dog. He says I left my door unlocked, but I swear I didn’t. I remember double checking it. He showed up at my job and followed me from my job to my house with my dog in the backseat of his truck telling me I have to talk to him. He thinks he’s completely justified and says it’s his dog because I got him for him back in 2020 and that I’m keeping him from him. It feels like just semantics he’s clinging on to. The dog is mine in almost every other sense. The police were called and they trespassed him and made him return the dog. I feel so violated and unsafe. Now my ex has texted a very “professional” text to inform me that if I don’t turn over the dog to him then he’s taking me to court. I’m terrified.